APM Terminals’ Itajaí Port Complex, the second-largest container hub in Brazil after the Port of Santos, is undertaking a $104 million turning basin enlargement project.
When completed, the project which is divided in two phases will allow access to vessels of up to 366 meters from current limit to vessels of 306 meters in length.
The Port of Itajaí, in Brazil’s Santa Catarina State, handled an estimated combined total of 1.1 million TEUs in 2014. Last month, APM Terminals Itajaí set a new productivity record by completing 125 Berth Moves per Hour (BMPH) while working the 8,600 TEU capacity Maersk Lamanai.
The vessel, part of the weekly Europe/East Coast of South America Samba Service, docked at 2:00 PM, with the terminal performing 1,106 container moves by the time of completion at 10:45 PM. The 125 BMPH was accomplished with two Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes supplemented by two of APM Terminals Itajaí’s three Mobile Harbor Cranes (MHCs).
The terminal’s previous record of 123.67 BMPH had been established with the much smaller 2,700 TEU capacity CMA CGM Ilva in October 2014.
“ Larger vessels are now in regular service at South American ports, and this productivity level, achieved without compromise to our safety standards and performance, demonstrates that we are ready and able to meet this challenge and provide world-class service to our customers, ” said APM Terminals Brazil Country Manager, Ricardo Arten Gorzelak.
APM Terminals Itajaí has applied for a concession extension from the Brazilian government which would expand the yard and operational capacity by 30% with a $100 million upgrade.
In March, APM Terminals Itajaí joined an initiative established by the Brazilian Labor Court to help promote work place safety. The Itajaí operations were cited for top safety performance within the APM Terminals Global Terminal Network in 2014.